TCL Specialties LLC (TCL USA), a wholly owned subsidiary of Thirumalai Chemicals Limited (TCL India), has provided an update on the progress of its petrochemical and fine chemicals/food ingredients plants under construction in New Martinsville, West Virginia.
The first phase of the investment, estimated at $200 million, is in an advanced stage of construction. The project includes a petrochemical plant designed to produce over 40,000 tons per year of Maleic Anhydride using locally sourced butane and a fine chemicals/food ingredients plant with an initial production capacity of 30,000 tons per year.
According to the company, the facilities will supply various industries, including food and beverage, mobility, energy, infrastructure, transportation, and biodegradable packaging. TCL India has been engaged in the production of fine chemicals and food ingredients since 1976 and markets its products in approximately 40 countries across South and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and North America.
TCL India is providing the project’s technology, design, engineering, and construction management. The company has developed modular process plants through its division, TCL Technology & Engineering (TCL-TE). The modular approach is expected to lower investment costs, enhance construction safety, and minimize on-site work.
The facility is designed to integrate its two production units, utilizing 90% of required energy from waste heat to reduce emissions. Engineering and procurement processes faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical disruptions. As of January 2025, over 99% of the assembly and construction of plant modules have been completed, with shipments beginning in mid-2024. These shipments are expected to be finalized by early March 2025.
Construction and installation at the U.S. site have been ongoing since early 2024, with final testing and pre-commissioning scheduled to commence in the third quarter of 2025. The facility is expected to begin operations in the fourth quarter of 2025, with production ramp-up occurring in the first half of 2026.
The site is equipped with infrastructure such as roads, fire protection systems, power, water, wastewater treatment, security, emergency services, rail siding, and an ocean-connected barge port. TCL USA expects these features to reduce investment and operational costs. The facility will be fully automated and IoT-enabled to allow real-time monitoring and optimization.
The company has outlined a long-term plan for the site, with this project representing the first of four planned phases aimed at expanding its specialty materials production to meet demand in North and Latin America. The company also cited the availability of natural gas fractions and other raw materials in the region as key factors supporting its operations.
TCL USA stated that its West Virginia facility is being developed to address increasing demand in the North American market, where local production capacity for these chemicals remains limited.